(19)

(11)

EP 2 079 381 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 30.10.2008 (43) Date of publication: 22.07.2009 Bulletin 2009/30 (21) Application number: 07810812.3 (22) Date of filing: 26.07.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 18/04(2006.01) A61B 1/00(2006.01) A61B 1/12(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/016811 (87) International publication number: WO 2008/042034 (10.04.2008 Gazette 2008/15)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 07.10.2006 US 544897 (71) Applicant: Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc. San Jose, CA 95134 (US)

(72) Inventors: KENDALE, Amar San Francisco, CA 94114 (US) PEREZ, Juan, I. San Jose, CA 95136 (US) VILLAGOMEZ, Fred Livermore, CA 94550 (US) BARRIGAR, Frederick Cupertino, CA 95014 (US) LAMBERTI, Joseph, N. Castro Valley, CA 94546 (US) AGARWAL, Amit San Francisco, CA 94110 (US) CALLAS, Peter Castro Valley, CA 94546 (US) STEWART, Michael, C. Milpitas, CA 95035 (US) LIN, Arthur Fremont, CA 94536 (US) ABBOTT, Ryan San Jose, CA 95126 (US) CANTU, Alfredo, R. Pleasanton, CA 94566 (US) (74) Representative: Viering, Jentschura & Partner  Postfach 22 14 43 80504 München 80504 München (DE)